Goo-Goos Displeased With Spitzer

New York magazine reports today that some good government activists are unhappy with Gov. Eliot Spitzer for waiting until after the Nov. 7 election to disclose that he had reimbursed casino mogul Richard Fields $110,000 for flights he took during the 2006 campaign on Fields’ private jet.

The flights in question took place in May (a series of campaign stops) and July (a fund-raiser FieldsÂ staged forÂ the governor-to-beÂ in Jacksone Hole). But Fields’ attorney told NY magazine’s Geoffrey Gray it took until December to the paperwork straight regardingÂ how much wasÂ owedÂ and to send Spitzer the bill.

Common Cause/NY’s Rachel LeonÂ said:

“You canâ€™t really run on a reform platform under New Yorkâ€™s laws and raise $40 million and at the same time expect to stay entirely clean.”

This isn’t the first time Spitzer has run afoul of the goo-goos – many of whom, including Leon, were members of the new governor’s transition committees. He has also drawn criticism for the new uber ethics commission (legislation for which has yet to pass, by the way) because, as currently designed, it would be controlled by the executive.